Marne Lucas

Artist Statement / Bio

Marne Lucas (she/her/they) is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York whose practice spans photography, video, sculpture and collaboration. Lucas works at the intersection of art, feminism, and health, using conceptual overlaps: life’s energy, the environment, the body, mortality and transformation. A self-taught artist, Marne’s investigations are informed by the events and emotions of the community around her, and inspired by the Dharma Art and Social Practice movements, social activism, and the End of Life Doula and palliative care movements; framed by a personal mythology on the meaning of creativity. Lucas has collaborated with artists, choreographers, dancers, musicians, art directors, activist groups, sex workers, health care and LGBTQIA non profits, and the public at large.

An infrared video pioneer, Lucas uses heat-sensitive imaging technology in the 'Transmundane' series to reference the magic and fragility of human existence and transport the viewer to an “otherworld” space within the framework of art and science. 'Transmundane' is a series of infrared thermal (IRT) video, photography and 2D works that frame the luminous energy of the human body, so that one may sense that we are truly beings of light. In stark black and white experimental films and digital photography Lucas has filmed the emotions and events of human life cycles, landscapes and water conservation, a live hospital birth, the hormonal change of Menopause, and implied death and transformation.
Surveillance cameras and rifle scopes are the means of digital image capture for this surreal aesthetic. Thermal imaging details subtle, actual surface temperature changes in the body and inanimate objects, where heat appears white and cold becomes black, as visible changes are in real time. Objects, landscapes and people have seemingly “negative film” qualities, possessing glowing transparency while maintaining surface reflections. The eerie beauty of heat signatures occurring around and within us is arresting, one may sense our ancient stellar origins. As Carl Sagan said “we are made of star stuff.” To witness our own energy is to experience the magic of the transmundane- that which lies in the celestial and beyond.

Lucas exhibits nationally and internationally at Plaxall Gallery (NYC), The Brand Library (Los Angeles), PICA (Oregon), Fremantle Arts Centre (Perth AU), Space Plus (Lincoln, U.K), Peltz Gallery (London), Municipal Museum of Penafiel (Portugal) and the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (Spain). Marne presented at the international art and science conferences FEMeeting, Lisbon, Portugal (2019), and Taboo-Transgression-Transcendence in Art & Science (TTT), Vienna/Online (2020), and Malta (2023). Lucas received UMEZ Arts Engagement grants in 2022, 2021, 2018 administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and participated in a 2016 Arts/Industry artist residency (Foundry, Pottery Divisions) at the Kohler Co. (Wisconsin), the 2012 Land Art Mongolia 360 Biennial and Residency, and a 2012 CentralTrak, UT Dallas (Texas). Marne served as URAM board member (2018-2019) for The Nest, a community health clinic by Harlem United.

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